The other decision we have to make is the window sizes. Originally we were thinking of having these huge windows, but we are reconsidering. Not only is the bigger windows a lot more expensive, but we also have to consider the added cost to the heating bill because of the heat loss through these windows. What do you guys think. Go big and enjoy the view (2 openings on the right) or save paying heating costs for the next 50 years? (2 sample windows on the left)

The other decision we have to make is the window sizes. Originally we were thinking of having these huge windows, but we are reconsidering. Not only is the bigger windows a lot more expensive, but we also have to consider the added cost to the heating bill because of the heat loss through these windows. What do you guys think. Go big and enjoy the view (2 openings on the right) or save paying heating costs for the next 50 years? (2 sample windows on the left)

Although the bigger windows are probably double the size in area (heating requirements) you don't lose half the view with smaller ones. Personally I would have gone with two smaller windows and have four windows in a row (if I understand you correctly)How about a horisontal window?

The other decision we have to make is the window sizes. Originally we were thinking of having these huge windows, but we are reconsidering. Not only is the bigger windows a lot more expensive, but we also have to consider the added cost to the heating bill because of the heat loss through these windows. What do you guys think. Go big and enjoy the view (2 openings on the right) or save paying heating costs for the next 50 years? (2 sample windows on the left)

Although the bigger windows are probably double the size in area (heating requirements) you don't lose half the view with smaller ones. Personally I would have gone with two smaller windows and have four windows in a row (if I understand you correctly)How about a horisontal window?

Finding this thread very informative.

It will be 4 windows of the same size. (4 smaller windows or the 4 larger size) But we talked last night and decided to go for the smaller size. J-dog, heating bill is $135pm.( $54 of that is fixed cost for delivery and line maintenance) They equalize it over 12 months. For February, our coldest month, I used 387m3 of natural gas to keep my house at 21C, to heat my garage and geyser. Electricity cost me $0.1374/kw.h. Basic monthly charge of $31 and roughly 850kw/h usage pmThe gas delivery cost is high. Back when they built this house the gas company had to install a 3 km gas line just for this house. they thought as the area developed more people would connect to this line, which in turn would lower my delivery charge. the more people share the line, the less each person pay for delivery. But 20 years later only one person connected to the line. My neighbours son is building a house and had to get permission from me to hook on to the gas line running over my property to my house. This is the shortest route to get to his house. They quoted him $18,000 just for the hook up and line install to his house 700 meters away.

The technology around nails has improved. Nowdays it is almost impossible to pull out a properly inserted nail from a piece of wood. The nails have serrations on them, almost like the threads of a screw, and believe me when I say that they SIT. Trying to get stuff apart for repairs is a hellofa mission. Easier to insert the sawsall with a steel cutting blade and just cut the nails off between the two pieces of wood.

And the speed of insertion with those big nail guns cannot be beaten. Not to mention that its pretty cool to shoot 4 inch nails into wood...

How big are those nail guns? I've been fantasising about fastening one underneath my car with a tracking system, to *ahem* nail any errant taxis in rush hour traffic. Give them a reason to stand in the emergency lane, so to speak But then someone said I wouldn't find one strong enough in SA

The technology around nails has improved. Nowdays it is almost impossible to pull out a properly inserted nail from a piece of wood. The nails have serrations on them, almost like the threads of a screw, and believe me when I say that they SIT. Trying to get stuff apart for repairs is a hellofa mission. Easier to insert the sawsall with a steel cutting blade and just cut the nails off between the two pieces of wood.

And the speed of insertion with those big nail guns cannot be beaten. Not to mention that its pretty cool to shoot 4 inch nails into wood...

How big are those nail guns? I've been fantasising about fastening one underneath my car with a tracking system, to *ahem* nail any errant taxis in rush hour traffic. Give them a reason to stand in the emergency lane, so to speak But then someone said I wouldn't find one strong enough in SA

You can get some really big ones... will shoot a 6" nail right through a car tyre. But the compressor needed to power it would cost a fortune.

Much better idea would be to get a windscreen wiper washer motor, connect it to a wiper washer resevoir, and a small pipe that exits the side of your car at the edge of the front bumper. Then fill the washer tank with brake fluid, and give each errant taxi a quick squirt.

When you see them again tomorrow they will have a nice shiny metal stripe where the paint used to be. Next week there will just be a rusty stripe...

This was my fantasy when I still lived in SA. Now I live in the USA and there are NO minibus taxis. Like heaven...

Hijack off.... apologies immigrant

Logged

Young enough to know I can, old enough to know I shouldn't, stupid enough to do it anyway.

Ant if the rain stays away we should have shingles off and the tin on all the roof by next week Thursday. We could do the windows and siding after that and then the snow can come. If the outside shell is done we could carry on inside without too much problems. We got half the roof sheeted today. Maybe have the tin on the new roof by tomorrow night.

All this timber still have to be used somewhere..... not exactly sure where.....

We got the tin on the addition done, but it was raining the last few days and that slowed us down a lot.

We also did not pass the inspection so we could not backfill. We had to put these "braces" in the crawlspace to prevent the weight of the soil pushing the studs off the bottom plate. I thought because the crawlspace is so shallow that it would not be necessary, but the inspector figured better to be safe than sorry.

The transition between the old and new roof was 100% square and level. That was a relief!!